Musa plant named ‘Cheeka’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Musa acuminata  cultivar named ‘Cheeka’ is disclosed, characterized a very compact plant with predominately solid green foliage and strong foliage resistant to tearing and breakage. The new cultivar is a  Musa acuminata  suitable as an indoor pot plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Musa acuminata.

Variety denomination: ‘Cheeka’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a chance, whole plant mutation selected by theinventor, Magaly Zais-Fast, a citizen of the United States, in 1995 at acommercial greenhouse located near Bangkok, Thailand. ‘Cheeka’ was foundas a single, whole plant mutation growing in a commercial planting ofthe parent variety Musa acuminata ‘Kluai Khai’.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Cheeka’ was first performed bytissue culture at a commercial laboratory in Thailand 2001. ‘Cheeka’ hasbeen reproduced by micro-propagation and has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Cheeka’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Cheeka.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Cheeka’ as a new and distinct Musa cultivar:

-   -   1. Very compact plant habit.    -   2. Predominately solid green foliage.    -   3. Suitability as an indoor pot plant.    -   4. Strong foliage resistant to tearing and breakage.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Cheeka’ are similar to plants of theunpatented parent variety, Musa acuminata ‘Kluai Khai’ in mosthorticultural characteristics, however, plants of ‘Cheeka’ are muchshorter and more compact than the parent variety. Additionally thecentral stem of ‘Cheeka’ is white when immature, purple/red at maturity,whereas the central stem of ‘Kluai Khai’ is yellow green, with brown orblack blotching.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘Cheeka’ can be compared to the patented commercial variety Musa ‘LittlePrince’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,255. Plants of ‘Little Prince’ aresimilar to plants of ‘Cheeka’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, ‘Cheeka’ is more compact, with foliage that is more resistantto tearing, and with less foliage color variegation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘Cheeka’ grown in a greenhouse. This plant isapproximately 18 months old, shown in a 15 cm pot. The photograph wastaken using conventional techniques and although colors may appeardifferent from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurateas possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Cheeka’ plants grown in a climate controlledgreenhouse in Evergem, the Netherlands. Temperatures ranged from 18° C.to 22° C. at night to 18° C. to 22° C. during the day. No artificiallight, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to theplants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplant types.

-   Botanical classification: Musa acuminata cultivar ‘Cheeka’.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Tender perennial with a single pseudostem.-   Height: Approximately 26.3 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 34.6 cm in a 15 cm pot.-   Normal pot size: 13, 15, 18 cm.-   Growth Rate: Moderate to slow.-   Branching characteristics: Upright, non-branching.-   Number of leaves per stem: Approximately 17.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 18 months.-   Psuedostem length: Average 10.8 cm.-   Psuedostem width: Average 1.7 cm.-   Psuedostem appearance: Smooth, Slightly glossy.-   Psuedostem strength: Very strong.-   Psuedostem color:    -   -   Immature.—Near RHS White N155C.        -   Mature.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple 183B.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled, single.        -   Average length.—Approximately 119.3 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 12.6 cm.        -   Internode length.—0.3 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Aspect.—Slightly undulating, very slightly recurved towards            tip on older leaves.        -   Apex.—Abruptly acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, moderately glossy.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, moderately glossy.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 141B. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Green 146A, Waxy sheen over            entire leaf near Greyed-Green 198B. Mature foliage upper            side: Near RHS Green 141A. Mature foliage under side: Near            RHS Green 137A.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnately parallel. Venation coloration:            Upperside: Near RHS Green; 143B. Underside: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144C.        -   Other foliage characteristics.—Strong foliage resists            tearing and breakage during transport and other potential            mechanical damage.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—Average 5.4 cm.        -   Diameter.—Average 3.9 cm.        -   Coloration.—Outer: Lower part near RHS Greyed-purple 183B,            upper part (closer to the leaf blade) yellow-green 144C.            Inner: Near RHS Yellow-green 145D, greener towards the leaf            blade, near 144C.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Flowers not observed in this cultivar.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Observed to tolerate    temperatures to 40° C. without any negative effects. Temperature    tolerance above this range has not been observed. Tolerance of cold    temperatures has not been observed, as the variety has been only    tested as an indoor ornamental potted plant.-   Fruit/seed production: Not observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Musa acuminata plant named ‘Cheeka’ asherein illustrated and described.